Pardons board denies clemency

Posted: Saturday, September 13, 2008

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ATLANTA - The Georgia pardons board denied clemency Friday for a death row inmate after an intense day of hearing from eyewitnesses with lingering doubts about whether Troy Davis murdered an off-duty police officer and prosecutors who pressed for execution.

Supporters of Davis, who is scheduled to die Sept. 23, say he should get a new trial because several witnesses who testified against him recanted or contradicted their statements.

More than two dozen Davis supporters signed up to speak at the closed-door meeting of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, which did not give a reason for its decision.